N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18532, 14 July 1922, Page 9

N.Z. RACING CONFERENCE.

INTERESTING REPORTS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON. July 13. The Racing Conference opened today. Sir George Clifford presiding. A statement showing that the receipts amounted to £4236 and the expenditure to £1433 was adopted. The accident fund showed the receipts to be £23,036, and the expenditure £22,526. The President said he could not account for the large increase in claims, but inquiries among insurance companies showed that claims were liable to very considerable fluctuations. They might hope that this was one ofjthe exceptional years, and not likely to occur again. The report was adopted. Il was decided that three delegates from the Conference and three delegates from the Trotting Conference confer with representatives of the Sports Protection League in regard to united action concerning the increased tote licenses. The stipendiary stewards’ report stated that the management and control of racing had been well up to the standard, but some clubs still show laxity. More care was advocated in the control of jockeys’ rooms, also weighing rooms. Since the appointment of racecourse inspectors the cleansing of racecourses I had undergone a very marked improvement. Racing had maintained a good standard, but there had, however, been a shortage of the very valuable class of jumping horses. In many hack and maiden events the fields still remained too large and I unwieldy. It should be possible to classify or divide the contestants, thereby reducing the fields and minimising the risk now existing. With some exceptions, the conduct of i jockeys had been good. TEN SHILLING TOTE TO BE ADVOCATED. The stipendiary stewards reported that where vicious or careless riding had been proved, the stewards in ! some cases had taken too lenient a view, and inadequate punishment had been meted out. The increased taxation had affected the tote returns and, in the stewards’ opinion, had driven much money into the hands of bookmakers. They had reason to believe that a few owners still continue to do business I with bookmakers. All c lubs should provide a ten shilling tote. The heavy cost involved in carrying on racing threatened the very ‘life of the sport, making it almost impossible for any owner to make ends meet. Several owners had discontinued racing during the past season. The stewards regretted to note that many clubs were adopting a system of re-handicapping winners. They were of opinion that fixed penalties was o much more satisfactory method. Mr Hazlett (Dunedin) thought that some explanation should be sought to add to such a bald statement. The president promised that the matter should receive attention. The existing stipendiary stewards’ committee was re-elected' An application from the Thames Racing Club for a totalisator license was withheld. It was decided not to grant applications for additional or new tote licenses or for extra days’ racing as none was available. Messrs W. E. Bidwell and E. Earl were appointed a committee to inquire into the matters referred to by the Racing Commission in its strictures on the Takauna and Avondale clubs. The Racing Conference approved i of the following resolutions of committee:— That the president be requested to draw the attention of the Minister for Internal Affairs to the undesirability of altering proportion of rac- ( ing and trotting totalisator licenses | as at present fixed until such time at least as the whole question of; totalisator licenses is again reviewed ] in its entirety. The committee recommends that in future when the Dates Commit.ee is appointed by | the Conference, the chairman of the committee should be appointed for the year by the committee, and that all matters to be dealt with by I the Dates Committee shall as far as (possible be submitted to the chairman of the committee at least fourI teen days before any meeting thereof. The Dates Committee was elected as-follows:—W. E. Bidwill, H. Lowry, J. S. McLeod, P. Miller, Hon. Sir E. Mitchelson, J. H. Perrett. The Conference then proceeded to discuss a lengthy series of remits forwarded for consideration. The rule relating to the interpretation of “district committee” was (amended by the following: The district committee shall have jurisdiction over all race meetings held in the metropolitan district, and may raise and shall consider and determine all matters in relation to the conduct of racing by clubs in its metropolitan district w r hich are not otherwise provided for in these (rules. All clubs and persons shall (be bound by the decision (including any order, direction or determinaition) of the district committee which, however, shall be subject to appeal. It was decided that stewards, if compelled on account of inclement weather or any extraordinary circumstances, may put off any race meeting from day to day, provided that races so postponed take place on the first available day. Rule 4 was amended accordingly. An addition was made to the rule relating to the exclusion of persons and horses from racecourses, provid- | ing that no refund of admission payi ment could be made and that the j club could not be liable to any action

for damages in respect of removal. It was resolved on the motion of the president that when a trotting competition is included in the programme of any meeting at which the I totalisator is used, the amount given I in stakes shall not exceed the average amount given on the same day for events on the. programme other j than the principal event. -Mr W. E. Bidwell moved the i Wairarapa remit, proposing that the I 101 b. penalty proviison relating to ! flat race jockeys in steeplechases or ! hurdle races should be done away with if there were not sufficient jockeys on the course. He declared a jockey without a weight penalty should be substituted. The motion was carried. In connection with the same rule, it was agreed that the penalty for licensed jockeys in races for apprentices should be 141 b. instead of 10 lb. The rule was further amended increasing the distance of the race for apprentices from six to not less than seven furlongs, debarring two-year-old horses from inclusion in races in which apprentices only may ride. In such races no rider is to be allowed whip or spur. A motion by the president, at the request of the Stipendiary Stewards’ Committee, was adopted requiring the name proposed for any horse to be registered prior to entry for any race with the secretary of the Conference, with particulars as to the name of breeder if known, the name of the owner or persons having an interest in the horse, the age, colour, sex, pedigree,. etc. The president also successfully moved a further recommendation I from the Stewards’ Committee, that the old name as well as the new' name of a horse should be given in every entry in the stud book for twelve months or until the horse I has run in a race in its new name. Part XVIII., Rule 3, relating to the scale of jockeys' allowances was amended, providing an exemption in the case of flat races and welter weights. The Southland Racing Club remit was adopted providing that in all races in which apprentice jockeys are eligible to ride, the penalty for a rider of over 30 winners should be 101 b. instead of 141 b. as hitherto. The Licensing Committee was empowered to suspend, cancel or withdraw any license of its own motion or upon the recommendation of j any district committee. An Auckland remit approved imposing a fine not exceeding £5O upon trainers or jockeys who misconduct themselves in any way; alternatively, they may be suspended for such a period as the racing authorities may think fit. Reductions were approved in the fees payable to jockeys under Rule 6, excepting where the net amount payable to a winner is less than £3O, the reduction is to be 20 per cent, in flat race events, 10 per cent, in hurdle races and steeplechases. A new rule was passed that when a horse is disqualified for a race owing to default or misbehaviour of its jockey, the jockey is to forfeit his fee. which may bp refunded to the owner. It was decided that totalisator tickets bear the date of the race meeting instead of the day of the meeting. Part XXIX of Rules 2. 3 and 4 were amended to provide that in the event of there being more horses starting in a race than there are numbers available on the machine 1 , the stewards or committee shall create a sufficient number of brackets to overcome the difficulty. A letter was read from the Minister of Internal Affairs regarding an item on the expenditure side of the annual balance-sheet of the Avondale Jockey Club, “Racing Commission, £1602 6/1.” The Conference decided to obtain an explanation from the secretary of the Avondale Jockey Club. Sir. G-eorge Clifford was re-elected president for the ensuing year.